10 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Does Pulaski have any basketball players that also play baseball? They weren't knocked out of the region until Thursday night, so if they have some multi-sport players some of them may have been absent due to baseball.

That I can’t say. I don’t think Fraley was there.  But what they had definitely could not handle pressure of Scott co. Scott county had one kid 6’3 and no one else with size and handled em pretty easy. Perimeter play was not good

The reports I've heard from DCA have been unanimous in their praise for the new coach, Shaun Busick.  He's gotten off to a good start.  One of the things he's going to focus on is to get the two bigs more involved in the offense.  Some of the younger players they'll have to depend on have been looking pretty good but we'll have to see if that carries over into real competition.

They had two summer games so far and beat Bourbon handily in one of them.  They lost to Great Crossing by 8 with Great Crossing missing 2 of their players.  We'll know a little more by the end of the week as they have games at Southwestern today and South Laurel on Thursday and Friday. 

DCA Transfer Braden Fugate plays for Lincoln County. 

With summer ball over now and heading into dead period let's see what everyone saw this summer and where you think things are headed if all the transfers get eligible and do indeed stick where they played this summer. 

I didn't see Rockcastle, Wayne, Southwestern, or West Jessamine play but am up on the teams as far as who transferred in or out of those schools. Here is my assessment for what its worth: 

1. Pulaski.  Saw them a couple of times and with what they have returning and what they gained has to be the clear top right now.  However, they didn't look as impressive as I thought this weekend at Collins.  I think a healthy Fraley is a must for them to repeat

2. Mercer.  They have been good this summer in the games I saw.  Adding Preston has steadied their back court and gives them what they needed.  They return three other major contributors to go along with Ellis that has been excellent in the the games I have seen.  Someone said in another post that somewhere in the region Mercer and Pulaski will meet and that will be the championship and today I would agree.

3. DCA. The two big guys  are impressive and imposing so that's why you have to put them here.  They do have an adequate point guard to go with him but it falls off from there.  If Inmon can give them enough then they have a shot, if not then they will struggle as most  teams have enough height and physical guys to keep DCA big guys from just running wild.  The lack of depth will be a factor for them.

4. Rockcastle.  Walker Craig is the real deal and they do return a couple to go with him.  Like I said I have not seen or even heard of them playing this summer.  Also have not heard of them  picking up or losing any kids.  I think they have enough to compete on any given night and could push Pulaski in the 47th if some of their younger guys step up.

5. Southwestern.  Returning Hutchinson and Simpson and adding Dumphord makes them a legitimate threat for sure.  Guard play will be the big factor for them as they have to replace Hudson who was the primary ball handler as well as scorer.  If they have young guys step up and fill that spot then they will be good.  They will be the top of the 48th without a doubt.

6. West Jessamine.  They could deserve to be higher with what they have added in the big kid and the guard from LCA but I haven't seen them this summer so I think this is where they fall right now.  What I saw from the big kid last spring in jv he may be a year away of varsity ball to reach his full potential and that makes West I think a year away from being at the top of the region again.  Time will tell on this one.

7. Boyle. Saw them a couple times this summer and they are young and have some talent but without the football players they  will struggle.  I put them here because of the unknown of the football players.  I think for sure they will get Turner and the younger Driver but who knows about Quisinberry, Brown and the older Driver.  If they all play I think they move up to the top 3-4 and would have a legitimate chance to contend.  If not I think the 5-7 range will catch them.

8. Lincoln.  With the addition of Fugate to go with Baird and Robbins they may have the best shooting team in the region.  Jackson has always done well with those type teams but with the lack of inside game they have and that being the strength of most of the teams ahead of them that is why I put them here.  Can't count out a Coach Jackson team ever though.

9. Somerset.  Didn't have some of their players this summer but I think just lost to much to be where they were last year at this time.  Have some young talent that will have to step up big time to surprise me. 

10.Danville.  They had a good summer and Trey Paige is a really good player.  Consistency seems to always be where they have trouble.  If they can do it on a nightly bases then they could be a top five team if not then they will fall in the middle of the pack here.

11. Trinity Christian. Not real sure where to put them because I have not seem or heard anything from them.  They were the surprise at the end of last season and return 4 from that team including Thompson so who knows which way they go this year.  You would think up but just didn't really look like they belonged in the championship game with Mercer or the region game they played.

12. East Jessamine.  Miyo Jones is really good and Daniels can be on any given night but without Radford and what they lost to graduation I don't see them competing this year.

13. Wayne Co.  Coach Woods was not the great coach he was without a strong feeder program so I think there is some young talent there but just lost to much off the top to compete this year.

14. Garrard Co

15. McCreary 

16. Somerset Christian

17.Casey Co

18. Burgin

19 KSD

 

A long time till December and a lot can change and even more before March. That's the way I see it today.

I want to say Somerset was 4th and Pulaski Co. was 7th in the Preseason Cats Pause last season for reference.  Seems like a pretty good list.  

Aedyn Absher will be next up as an impact guard for Somerset.   With the teams at the top, seems to have quality size for this region to contend with the twin towers of DCA.  

1 minute ago, LethalPG said:

Aedyn Absher will be next up as an impact guard for Somerset.   With the teams at the top, seems to have quality size for this region to contend with the twin towers of DCA.  

Absher was an impact player for them this year and is very good.  Yes Mercer has Ellis and two juniors 6’6” or so and Pulaski has Farmer and Anderson who are fairly tall and physical. 

3 minutes ago, BasketballFan24 said:

Absher was an impact player for them this year and is very good.  Yes Mercer has Ellis and two juniors 6’6” or so and Pulaski has Farmer and Anderson who are fairly tall and physical. 

Definitely a lot of size for a region that is traditionally guard heavy!  

30 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

Definitely a lot of size for a region that is traditionally guard heavy!  

Still a lot of good guards from what I’ve seen as well. 

I think Mercer and Pulaski are alone at the top, and probably in that order. Ellis is the best player in the region and the transfer guard was a big get for them. And as said, a healthy Fraley is a must for Pulaski. Both teams have good size and great coaching.

I think Southwest, West and Rock will end up being the next 3. The big for West is very good and they also got a solid transfer and a very good new coach in Adams. Both Southwest and West have good size overall. Lincoln may sneak into the mix as well and we all know how well coached they are, but they’re missing experienced size. Rock has a top player in the region who is a great scorer, and good size across the board.

After those 6, I think there’s a pretty big drop. That next tier has DCA and Somerset. DCA has 3 good players with a ton of size, but huge holes beyond that, and I can’t speak to the quality of coaching as he’s new to the area. Somerset lost a ton but will be well coached and do have some good young talent. Deeper than DCA for sure.

Then I think you go Boyle and East. Regarding Boyle, Quisenberry’s recent commitment to play football at WVU ensures that he won’t be there for basketball, and Brown will likely be in the same situation. That leaves Turner and (Seneca) Driver, assuming both play, along with a lot of kids that haven’t seen much varsity time. And other than Driver, they really lack size and won’t have the elite speed at guard this year to help offset that. Also, if either of those 2 don’t come out, they drop down to the “other” group. And I do think East can sneak into the mix here. They have some talent and I wouldn’t rule it out given their new coach. 

Beyond those 10, I don’t think there’s a lot out there.

I've seen the following teams this summer:

DCA            Lincoln             Mercer             Pulaski

Pulaski looks like an excellent team on paper but they were very underwhelming.  They just aren't very quick and even when Fraley comes back they'll still not be quick.  I was expecting a lot more after seeing them in the tournament as well as seeing the 2 new players from Wayne County.

Lincoln definitely benefits from Braden Fugate's addition to the team but they still struggled more than I expected.  They don't have much of an inside presence.

Mercer was also underwhelming.  Ellis is good but I don't think he's the best player in the region by any stretch.  He doesn't look like he's even in shape to play basketball.  

DCA was the biggest puzzle.  At times they looked really good and they were using the big guys to better advantage than they did last year.  They easily handled Taylor County, a team that beat Pulaski by 21.  However, at times they looked completely lost.  Too many turnovers, defensive lapses, poor shot selection.  It may be that once they learn the new coach's system they'll be a lot better or it might be that they'll struggle all year.  Some of the younger players that they'll be forced to depend on have improved.  The overall lack of good three point shooting will be a problem for them.

13 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

I think Mercer and Pulaski are alone at the top, and probably in that order. Ellis is the best player in the region and the transfer guard was a big get for them. And as said, a healthy Fraley is a must for Pulaski. Both teams have good size and great coaching.

I think Southwest, West and Rock will end up being the next 3. The big for West is very good and they also got a solid transfer and a very good new coach in Adams. Both Southwest and West have good size overall. Lincoln may sneak into the mix as well and we all know how well coached they are, but they’re missing experienced size. Rock has a top player in the region who is a great scorer, and good size across the board.

After those 6, I think there’s a pretty big drop. That next tier has DCA and Somerset. DCA has 3 good players with a ton of size, but huge holes beyond that, and I can’t speak to the quality of coaching as he’s new to the area. Somerset lost a ton but will be well coached and do have some good young talent. Deeper than DCA for sure.

Then I think you go Boyle and East. Regarding Boyle, Quisenberry’s recent commitment to play football at WVU ensures that he won’t be there for basketball, and Brown will likely be in the same situation. That leaves Turner and (Seneca) Driver, assuming both play, along with a lot of kids that haven’t seen much varsity time. And other than Driver, they really lack size and won’t have the elite speed at guard this year to help offset that. Also, if either of those 2 don’t come out, they drop down to the “other” group. And I do think East can sneak into the mix here. They have some talent and I wouldn’t rule it out given their new coach. 

Beyond those 10, I don’t think there’s a lot out there.

I agree I think Mercer and Pulaski are the top at the moment although I have seen Pulaski play 3 times and they have zero quickness and guard play is a concern(yes Fraley played in 2 of those) but Southwest and West are pretty weak from what I saw. DCA and Rock are the next 2 after Merc and Pul. Huge drop off after that in my opinion.

1 hour ago, Waterboy70 said:

I agree I think Mercer and Pulaski are the top at the moment although I have seen Pulaski play 3 times and they have zero quickness and guard play is a concern(yes Fraley played in 2 of those) but Southwest and West are pretty weak from what I saw. DCA and Rock are the next 2 after Merc and Pul. Huge drop off after that in my opinion.

Well this isn’t true.. Carson Fraley hasn’t played a summer ball game. He’s sitting on the bench in a knee brace, and people in the crowd say he won’t be released until September. 

9 minutes ago, 12th Region Fan said:

Well this isn’t true.. Carson Fraley hasn’t played a summer ball game. He’s sitting on the bench in a knee brace, and people in the crowd say he won’t be released until September. 

I didn’t think he was playing either and didn’t see him play when I watched them. Did he have surgery or did the people say?  

Pulaski appeared to have all of their experienced players other than Carson Fraley at the KABC tournament.  I wasn't sure if I saw Foster Fraley or not.  The two new players from Wayne County were there.